EL CERRITO — With rents up 41 percent since 2010, the City Council on Dec. 16 called for new city policies that could reduce housing insecurity for renters and slow the rate of rent increases.

The proposals emerged during a study session on the city’s Housing Element, a report that will be submitted to the state on the city’s housing needs over the next eight years.

Councilman Greg Lyman and other council members indicated they favor a Just Cause for Eviction ordinance, while Mayor Mark Friedman went further, telling the council he thinks it is time for rent control in El Cerrito.

Just Cause for Eviction sets out specific rules for tenant removal without the rent cap.

The council agreed unanimously to change the wording in the draft Housing Element from “shall consider adopting” a Just Cause for Eviction ordinance to an indication that it would adopt one.

“We should move forward (now) with eviction for just cause,” Lyman said.

Oakland’s Just Cause for Eviction ordinance, passed under Measure EE in 2002, specifies 11 circumstances when landlords can evict tenants.

Among the reasons are, most notably, failure to pay rent, continuing to violate a provision of a lease, and refusing to sign a new lease that is identical to the old one.

The ordinance does allow landlords to remove problem tenants but makes it difficult to evict tenants who are not causing one or more specific problems for the landlord or other tenants or neighbors under a list included in the ordinance.

The council further emphasized expanding housing opportunities for people with special needs, especially those with developmental disabilities, and encouraging the creation of more in-law units in other changes to the Housing Element draft.

In-law units are the “low-hanging fruit” in the effort to produce more affordable housing in the city, said Planning Commissioner Bill Kuhlman in remarks to the council.

Outside of Friedman, council members were silent about the prospect of rent control, which would cap increases on top of setting rules about evictions.

Eight Bay Area cities have rent control of differing degrees of strength, including Berkeley, Campbell, East Palo Alto, Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose, according to the state Department of Consumer Affairs.

Energy consortium

In other action, the council made a final decision unanimously to join San Rafael-based Marin Clean Energy, a consortium that allows customers to buy half or all of their electricity from renewable sources such as biogas, biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar or wind energy.

In May, residents will be given a choice of the two plans offered by Marin Clean Energy, or they may opt out of the program and stay with regular Pacific Gas & Electric service, which derives 22 percent of its electricity from renewables.

The city’s Environmental Quality Committee has been studying the Marin Clean Energy program for several years, according to committee Chairman Mark Miner.

“This will be the linchpin of the city’s Climate Action Plan,” Miner said. “It will produce jobs in building out local renewable resources.”

“It’s a way for people to express their values through their electricity purchases,” Goudey said.

The cost of Marin Clean Energy’s power is currently comparable to PG&E. Customers will be able to withdraw from the service and return to PG&E at any time if they wish, said Maria Sanders, the city’s interim environmental services manager.

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